Bringing Hope to Nyankunde

Chronic instability and ongoing conflict have caused severe poverty in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ongoing challenges include insufficient food sources, malnutrition, poor access to quality health care, political instability, tribalism, and the proliferation of rebel groups.

Infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV are widespread, and the prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease is increasing. Within the church, evangelism has been emphasized much more than discipleship or the pursuit of justice for the oppressed.

Nyankunde was once a thriving hub of evangelistic and medical missions. In 2002, the village was devastated due to social upheaval. Since 2004, Nyankunde and its missionary community have been in the process of rebuilding.

The Serge team in Nyankunde provides medical care to the local community, while also training Congolese doctors and nurses. The team is also committed to evangelism and discipleship and strives to become embedded in the local community and building relationships with neighbors.

Types of Work

Discipleship and Training

Education

Medical Missions

What We Do in D.R. Congo – Nyankunde

The Serge team partners with other missionary doctors and Congolese medical colleagues to deliver compassionate medical care to the local community as well as patients traveling from all over our province and beyond. Broadly speaking, the team’s work advances treatment in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine. Primary focus areas are:

Maternal and infant mortality rates in the peripartum period
HIV and tuberculosis care
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training
Care of chronic diseases including diabetes and heart failure

Here are just a few examples of the fruit they are seeing:

The implementation of an infant resuscitation program called Helping Babies Breathe (HBB)
The construction of a tuberculosis isolation ward at the hospital to protect patients, their families, and hospital staff
The establishment of a program to provide formula for orphaned infants

The team is committed to training excellent Congolese doctors and nurses who care for patients both physically and spiritually.

While providing clinical training, Serge missionaries also teach spiritual care and evangelism in the context of healthcare for medical and nursing staff.

With a focus on encouraging the local church and fellow missionaries, the team strives to become embedded in the local community and to love their neighbors well in Jesus’ name.

With the Helping Babies Breath program, MANY babies have been saved in our hospital! Before this, our maternity and OR nurses had little to no training in resuscitation right after birth. If a baby didn’t breathe well at delivery, it likely died before a doctor could get to the scene (our hospital uses nurses for most deliveries).

The head doctor and I also took HBB and the materials to all surrounding health centers and trained the nurses there. Until this training, the health centers did not have the materials to resuscitate babies even if they knew how.”

– Anna LaRochelle, Team Leader

Meet The Team

Stabell, Mark and Amy

Stafford, Peter and Rebekah

LaRochelle, Patrick and Anna

Get Involved

Missions Opportunities D.R. Congo – Nyankunde

We seek the following types of people to join the team in order to expand our work in Nyankunde:

Physical Therapist
Nurse Educator
Pastor/Theologian
A teacher or educational specialist committed to improving education in our local schools
A teacher for missionary children
Engineer/Contractor
Community Development/Small Business Development Specialist

Here are the ways you can join our team:

Mk Teacher

2 years of providing education to the children of Serge missionaries

Career Mission

2-5 year terms of service in a cross-cultural context

How You Can Pray

For wisdom as the team grows
For unity with other missionaries
For vision to wisely steward time, energy, and resources
For Congolese brothers and sisters to be encouraged and for God to bring healing to the village

Current Staffing Needs

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WHERE WE SERVE

D.R. Congo - Nyankunde